Talk about eliminating the middleman: in anticipation of a run for AG, Sean Coffey is stepping down as a senior partner with the prominent class action firm of Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP, which has donated to some high-profile AGs in the past. He won't run if incumbent Andrew Cuomo decides to stay with the job, knowing Cuomo as he does "from time spent in state Democratic Party activities." [WSJ Law Blog; Longstreth/AmLaw Daily] It should be noted that our most recent mention of Mr. Coffey in this space has him coming off in a rather favorable light, as a critic of the practices of the egregious Bill Lerach (who as it happens has moved to a halfway house in preparation for his expected release March 8). [Updated Fri. a.m. for clarity and to add source]